Caladium plant named ‘Desert Sunset’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Desert Sunset’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; lance-type leaves that are bronze salmon pink in color with darker-colored venation; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DESERT SUNSET’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladiumplant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referredto as a lance (strap) leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Desert Sunset’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create newCaladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container andgarden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2007 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘WhiteWonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,044, as the female, orseed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Twist and Shout’, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment inZolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers(cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing anaxillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2009 has shown that theunique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Desert Sunset’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Desert Sunset’ as a new and distinctCaladium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Lance-type leaves that are bronze salmon pink in color with        darker-colored venation.    -   4. Good landscape performance.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘White Wonder’, in leaf color as plants of ‘White Wonder’ haveleaves with white-colored background blushed with pink and distinct darkgreen-colored margins. In addition, plants of the new Caladium growfaster and produce finished plants one to two weeks earlier than plantsof ‘White Wonder’.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Twist and Shout’, in leaf color as plants of ‘Twist and Shout’have leaves that are olive green in color with coppery orange-coloredblotches. In addition, plants of the new Caladium and ‘Twist and Shout’differ in leaf petiole color as plants of ‘Twist and Shout’ have lightgreen-colored leaf petioles.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants ofCaladium×hortulanum ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 8,526. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladiumdiffered primarily from plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were taller and more upright than        plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster and produced finished        plants about one to two weeks earlier than plants of ‘Florida        Sweetheart’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differed        in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’        had rose red-colored centers and dark green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants ofCaladium×hortulanum ‘White Delight’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.21,216. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differedprimarily from plants of ‘White Delight’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster and produced finished        plants about one to two weeks earlier than plants of ‘White        Delight’.    -   2. Plants of the new Caladium had broader leaves than plants of        ‘White Delight’.    -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘White Delight’ differed in        leaf coloration as leaves of plants of ‘White Delight’ were        white to grey-green in color with white-colored main veins and        green-colored or speckled margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Desert Sunset’ in a 15-cm container and grown in ashadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view oftypical plants of ‘Desert Sunset’ grown in 15-cm containers; the planton the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right hashad its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Desert Sunset’.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a close-up view oftypical plants of ‘Desert Sunset’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view oftypical inflorescences of ‘Desert Sunset’.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (left), ‘Desert Sunset’(center) and ‘White Delight’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a comparison view oftypical potted plants of the female parent, ‘White Wonder’ (left),‘Desert Sunset’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Twist and Shout’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in apolypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park,Fla. and plants grown in ground beds in an outdoor nursery inCrewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typicalof commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), nighttemperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C.to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoornursery). Plants grown in the shadehouse were six weeks old and plantsgrown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographsand the detailed description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Desert Sunset’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wonder’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,044.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Twist and            Shout’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            32° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at            24° C.        -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown            plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;            individual segments ovate to elliptic in shape. Height:            About 3 cm to 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 cm to 4.3 cm.            Segment height: About 1.9 cm to 2.3 cm. Segment diameter:            About 2.2 cm to 2.7 cm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat            brittle. Color: Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close to 199C            to 199D and darker than N199B. Epidermis, dried: Close to            200A to 200B. Cortical tissue: Close to 155A and 8D.            Axillary buds: Close to 36C to 36D. Root description: Thick,            fleshy contractile roots; color, close to 155C. Rooting            habit: Few lateral branches; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant            in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape            plant in shaded areas.        -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounding plant            habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; rapid growth rate,            potted plants in finished or saleable form in about six to            seven weeks after planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves            arise from one or more growing points on tubers; petioles            mostly upright and arching outwardly with development.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 23 cm to 27 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,            shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 33 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted            plants.—About 40 cm to 43 cm.        -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown potted            plants.—About three from de-eyed tubers.        -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About 5            cm to 8 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm to 2 cm. Shape:            Wedge-shaped. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base: Sheathing the            stem. Color, outer surface: Close to 147D and 145D tinged            with close to 146A to 146B and N170D; stippled, streaked and            tessellated with close to 147A; with development, color            becoming closer to 200C stained with close to 187B to 187C.            Color, inner surface: Close to N155C; outer surface colors            and patterns visible.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; lance-type.        -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 16 cm to 24            cm.        -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants, flattened.—About 13            cm to 17 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate, broadly ovate to somewhat deltoid.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Sagittate to sagittate peltate.        -   Margin.—Entire; wavy with broad undulations.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery; dull            sheen.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,            upper surface: Background color: Central areas, close to            183D and 182B; marginal areas, close to 178A and 176C. Basal            notch: Close to 187A. Venation: Close to 176B tinged with            close to 183A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Background            color: Central areas, close to 182D; marginal areas, close            to 191A. Basal notch: Close to 187B to 187C. Midvein: Close            to 147B tinged with close to 162D. Lateral venation: Close            to 191A and 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Background color: Central areas, close to 182C to 182D            tinged with close to N34C; marginal areas, close to 183C,            185A and 182C. Basal notch: Close to 187B and 147C.            Venation: Close to 185A and 183B. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Background color: Close to 182C to 182D and            180D. Basal notch: Close to 187B to 187C. Venation: Close to            148C to 148D; adjacent to venation, close to 145C to 145D.        -   Petiole.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with            development, leaning outwardly; flexible. Length,            shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 17 cm to 22 cm.            Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3.5            mm to 4 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown potted            plants: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown potted            plants: Just below leaf and petiole junction, variably            tinged with close to N170D and 177D; proximally, between            147C and 146C tinged with close to N170D and faintly            stippled, streaked and tessellated with close to 147B to            147C. Wing length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4.3            cm to 5.2 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants:            About 6 mm to 10 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted            plants, outer surface: Close to 147D and 145D tinged with            close to 146A to 146B and stippled, streaked and tessellated            with close to 147A. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted            plants, inner surface: Close to N155C; outer surface colors            and patterns visible.-   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on eight week-old    shadehouse-grown potted plants.    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes            surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;            spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers            separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the            lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on the            upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop at            junction of female and male flower zones; near this            junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses            the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male            flowers.        -   Fragrance.—Night fragrant; sweet jasmine-like fragrance with            camphor-like notes.        -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the            new Caladium typically flower during the spring or early            summer in central Florida; flowers develop about eight weeks            after growth commences; inflorescences last about three days            before fading; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 10 cm. Length, distal open            portion: About 6.5 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:            About 3.5 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 4.5 cm.            Width, at constriction: About 9 mm. Width, proximal closed            portion: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to somewhat obovate.            Apex: Acuminate. Base: Tapering to the peduncle. Margin:            Entire. Texture, front and rear surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, front surface: Distal open portion: Close to 155A and            158D; with development, color becoming closer to 199C.            Proximal closed portion: Close to 138C and 147C; towards the            base, tinged with close to 187A; color does not change with            development. Color, rear surface: Distal open portion: Close            to 159D, 160D and 145D. Proximal closed portion: Between            147B and 146B.        -   Spadix.—Length: About 8.8 cm. Length, male flower zone:            About 6.5 cm. Length, sterile zone: Less than 1 cm. Length,            female flower zone: About 2.3 cm. Diameter, male flower            zone: About 1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone: About 7 mm.            Diameter, female flower zone: About 9 mm. Shape: Columnar,            spindle-shaped. Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect:            Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to 13D. Color,            mature, sterile zone: Close to 161D. Color, mature, female            zone: Close to 8C to 8D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix:            About 183. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to            4C to 4D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 140.            Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Stigma color: Close to 158D. Ovary color: Close to 155C.        -   Scape.—Length: About 23 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength:            Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; glaucous. Color: Between 147B and 148A faintly            streaked with close to 147A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Caladium.-   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been    observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot    and to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new    Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and    other pathogens common to Caladium plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about    40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘DesertSunset’ as illustrated and described.